High impact poly(lactic acid)/poly(ethylene octene) blends prepared by reactive blending

Abstract

Abstract Poly(ethylene octene) grafted with glycidyl methacrylate (POE‐ g ‐GMA) was prepared and used to toughen poly (lactic acid) (PLA) via reactive blending. It was found that the notched Izod impact strength of PLA/POE‐ g ‐GMA blends improved dramatically when the content of elastomer was higher than 10 wt%. Reactive compatibilization between PLA and POE‐ g ‐GMA were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and “Molau test,” the results showed the end carboxyl groups of PLA reacted with the epoxide groups of POE‐ g ‐GMA during blending. This considerably improved the compatibilization, leading to better wetting of the dispersed phase by the PLA matrix and finer dispersed POE‐ g ‐GMA particles with narrow distribution. Moreover, the critical interparticle distance ( L c ) of the dispersed domains for PLA/POE‐ g ‐GMA blends system at room temperature was also identified. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers